Trade body for independent network providers calls for progress toward the delivery of ultrafast broadband to all parts of the UK to continue despite the current Covid-19 lockdown conditions

Citing the increased demands on internet providers from the many millions more people working from home to illustrate the need to ensure the UK has the best possible digital infrastructure, the Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA) has called for no let-up in the current pace of UK full-fibre development despite coronavirus.

The move comes as INCA announced it was also moving its entire events programme online to prevent delays to delivering ultrafast broadband for all in the UK.

The events programme, due to be held at venues across the country, has been converted into a series of webinars with reduced prices for attendance.

“With lockdown conditions unlikely to be lifted completely for some time to come, people across the country are getting used to working from home and are relying more than ever on the internet for keeping in touch and to provide entertainment as they observe social distancing guidelines,” said INCA CEO Malcolm Corbett.

“Network resilience has been good during the crisis, but sharing best practice on the way networks are operated and managed has taken on even greater importance.”

The call to action is timely. The UK fibre industry has gained a lot of momentum in terms of deployment in 2020. In one of the first public statements he made after becoming prime minister in July 2019, Boris Johnson pledged that he would work towards “delivering full-fibre [broadband] to every home in the land” by 2025, and in his first Budget statement in March 2020, chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the government will fulfil its promise to make funding available to develop gigabit broadband roll-out across the UK, especially in the so-called hardest-to-reach parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Unified Communications: the key to prospering in the new working reality of Covid-19

The coronavirus is changing everything about how people work, and will do so permanently. It added that even though the working world was experiencing unprecedented uncertainty, there were two things that should be borne in mind: the virus will pass, and at the other side of the pandemic, the world of work will look very different.

I agree to TechTarget’s Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and the transfer of my information to the United States for processing to provide me with relevant information as described in our Privacy Policy.

Please check the box if you want to proceed.

I agree to my information being processed by TechTarget and its Partners to contact me via phone, email, or other means regarding information relevant to my professional interests. I may unsubscribe at any time.

Please check the box if you want to proceed.

By submitting my Email address I confirm that I have read and accepted the Terms of Use and Declaration of Consent.

Start the conversation

0 comments

Register

I agree to TechTarget’s Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and the transfer of my information to the United States for processing to provide me with relevant information as described in our Privacy Policy.

Please check the box if you want to proceed.

I agree to my information being processed by TechTarget and its Partners to contact me via phone, email, or other means regarding information relevant to my professional interests. I may unsubscribe at any time.